The European Parliament today approved a law to facilitate the exchange of data within the European Union in order to stimulate innovation in digital technologies, AFP reported, quoted by BTA.

From cars to vaccines, access to data is becoming crucial in the global economy, and the European Commission fears that the lack of trust among citizens and businesses is hampering the full exploitation of the potential of artificial intelligence, AFP reported.

Therefore, in November 2020, the European Commission proposed a regulation to facilitate the exchange of data that is currently underused for reasons of privacy, confidentiality and intellectual property rights.

"The text sets out the conditions for accessing and transferring data so that it can circulate in the internal market and create value, while ensuring a framework of confidence in their use," said EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.

The EC insists that Bulgaria introduce the rules for open data

After being considered and negotiated for more than a year by member states and MEPs, the text was adopted today with 501 votes in favor, 12 against and 40 abstentions.

For it to take effect, the law must be formally approved by the 27 EU countries.

The text establishes new rules that impose "neutrality" on "intermediaries" whose mission is to "connect those who have data with those who want to use it," Breton said.

Intermediaries will only have the power to summarize and refine the data that will be entrusted to them.

They should not pursue other economic interests, contrary to what major platforms such as Google, Facebook and Amazon do.

The rapporteur for the text in the European Parliament is the German MEP Angelika Niebler from the European People's Party.

The exchange will be supported by the creation of "common European data spaces" for health, the environment, industry and public administration.

These spaces could also be used by research participants and civil society.

The European Parliament has set clear conditions to allow administrations to make maximum data available for sharing.

This regulation is the first pillar of the European Data Strategy defined by the European Commission.

It must be supplemented by a Data Act.

The law will regulate the use of data created by related sites.

Presented in February, this proposal has not yet been discussed by Member States and the European Parliament.